Portable Hydration Device with Selector Mechanism for Additive Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable hydration systems do not allow users to conveniently switch between plain water and sports drinks during activities, leading to overconsumption issues and bacterial growth due to residue, making it inconvenient to manage nutrient intake effectively.
Innovation Solution
A portable hydration device with a selector mechanism that allows users to choose between plain water and a diluted additive, enabling the introduction of nutrients like electrolytes, sugars, or flavorings by aligning a selector throughbore with the housing throughbore in both engaged and disengaged positions, ensuring consistent additive volume and preventing bacterial growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users carry multiple separate containers for water and sports drinks, then nutrient intake options are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple liquid containers (water reservoir and sports drink reservoir) into a single integrated hydration device, allowing users to access both plain water and sports drinks without carrying separate containers. The mixing chamber enables combination of these liquids, providing versatile nutrient intake options while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydration device is designed to perform multiple functions: storing plain water, storing sports drinks, delivering plain water through the water reservoir, delivering sports drinks through the sports drink reservoir, and mixing them in various proportions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for different hydration needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users carry multiple separate containers for water and sports drinks, then nutrient intake options are improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mixing mechanism where a mixing element can move between different positions to control the flow from water and sports drink reservoirs. This allows users to easily adjust the mixing ratio or select pure water or pure sports drink by simply moving the mixing element, providing versatile nutrient intake options without complex operations.
3Reliability
If sports drink is consumed during intense exercise, then nutrient replacement is improved, but overconsumption ability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows users to change the concentration parameter of sports drink by mixing it with plain water in varying proportions. Users can adjust the mixing ratio to achieve the desired nutrient concentration, ensuring adequate nutrient replacement during intense exercise while preventing overconsumption by controlling the amount of sports drink intake through the mixing mechanism.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If additive receptacle is sealed, then bacterial growth prevention is improved, but fluid communication capability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle for additive is designed with a dynamic seal mechanism that remains sealed during storage to prevent bacterial growth, but can be opened when needed. The mixing element movement automatically triggers the seal opening, allowing fluid communication between the additive reservoir and mixing chamber when mixing is required, thus resolving the contradiction between sealed storage and fluid communication capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable hydration device for use with a portable hydration system is described. The portable hydration device comprises a housing having an inlet, configured to be in fluid communication with a reservoir of water, and an outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a mouthpiece; the housing defining a throughbore connecting the inlet and the outlet. The device also includes a receptacle configured to contain an additive and a selector. The selector is movable between an engaged position in which the selector is engaged with the receptacle and a disengaged position in which the selector is disengaged from the receptacle. In the engaged position the selector permits fluid communication between the receptacle and the throughbore and in the disengaged position the selector prevents fluid communication between the receptacle and the throughbore. The selector defines a throughbore, the selector throughbore being aligned with the housing throughbore in the engaged and the disengaged positions.